Sawn timber production was 965,000 cubic metres in the September quarter, down 20% on the same quarter in 2007. This followed a 10% decline in the June quarter.

The log harvest from New Zealand’s plantation forests jumped from 15.7 million cu m in 1999 to 18.7 million cu m in 2000. Since then it has ranged between 18.8 and 22.7 million cu m. In 2008 it was 20.4 million cu m.

Sawn lumber production since 2003 has been stable at around 4.1 million cu m a year after climbing from 3.6 million cu m in 2000. The recent quarterly decline has not yet been reflected in annual statistics.

Since 2004, the value of forest product exports has declined from $3224 million to $2889 million. Forest exports are now make up 7.5% of New Zealand’s merchandise exports, compared with 11.2% five years ago.

For more information: www.maf.govt.nz/statistics/forestry/index.htm